Missed Fists: Thiago Goularte wins most chaotic fight of the year with wild spinning elbow knockout

Welcome to the most recent version of Missed Fists the place we shine a lightweight on fights from throughout the globe that will have been missed in these hectic instances the place it looks as if there’s an MMA present each different day.

We’re three months into 2025 and there was a ton of compelling MMA motion, significantly exterior of the octagon (hey, UFC Vegas 105 this Saturday! You’re watching, proper?). Severely, you could possibly make a listing of the 5 finest knockouts from the regional and worldwide scene and put them up towards the 5 finest from the UFC up to now, and I’m unsure UFC comes out on prime.

Living proof, we had professional debutant Jaron Lathrop ship possibly the Knockout of the Year so far with a spinning back kick KO at XFC 52 that evoked recollections of Joaquin Buckley disintegrating Impa Kasanganay.

After which there was this spinning effort from Thiago Goularte at a Thunder Combat occasion in Sao Paulo.

(Massive thanks as at all times to @Barrelelapierna for his or her weekly lists of one of the best KOs and submissions, and to @Grabaka_Hitman for importing lots of the clips you see right here. Give them a comply with and chip in on Patreon if you happen to can.)

Thiago Goularte vs. Leonardo Mesquita
Alex Junius vs. Mario Piazzon
Milena Galvao vs. Isabel Oliveira

Watch it. Take pleasure in it. Embrace the pure chaos.

Thiago Goularte appeared to have Leonardo Mesquita lifeless to rights early within the battle, battering him with punches and forcing him into sheer survival mode. The best way Mesquita was turtling up and turning his again, we’ve all seen fights stopped for much less. However the brutal motion was allowed to proceed and it regarded like Mesquita could be rewarded for his toughness as he began firing again and touchdown laborious punches.

Quickly, it was Goularte on the defensive, maybe having punched himself out. He was simply taking part in possum although, a berserker possum at that, as a result of out of nowhere he unleashed a spinning again elbow from one other dimension.

Goularte fell on his ass letting that one rip. That had no enterprise touchdown with any influence, a lot much less sufficient to utterly flatten Mesquita and power officers to finally get away a stretcher for the fallen fighter. But it was so.

Overlook KO of the Yr, that may deserve Combat of the Yr honors. And in some way that wasn’t essentially the most shocking ending of the evening.

In the principle occasion, 8-0 heavyweight Mario Piazzon was poised to seize a vacant heavyweight title as he was paired up with 15-39 journeyman Alex Junius. I’m guessing this ending isn’t what the matchmakers had in thoughts:

You may bear in mind Piazzon from a dreadful 2023 Contender Sequence displaying towards Alexander Soldatkin that ended with Piazzon profitable by way of disqualification after he took an unlawful knee to the top whereas grounded. Probabilities had been slim-to-none Dana White and co. would come calling once more and after this slip-up, they’re down to simply none.

On a extra constructive observe, right here’s Milena Galvao profitable a kicking contest with Isabel Oliveira.

Each girls have powerful-looking legs, however it’s Galvao who caught Oliveira with a head kick that should have glanced throughout the entrance of her face. Prompt response and Galvao was variety sufficient to not comply with up.

A free replay of Thunder Combat 47 is accessible on YouTube.

Levy Carriel vs. Raphael Mebenga
Adama Diop vs. Paul-Emmanuel Gnaze

At Hexagone MMA 25 in Poitiers, France, we noticed some stunning hanging and… effectively, some not-so-beautiful hanging.

Levy Carriel despatched a rocket proper hand into Raphael Mebenga’s head, then wanted only one extra punch to silence him. The entire bit took 5 seconds (per Tapology).

Timing and precision weren’t the order of the day for Adama Diop and Paul-Emmanuel Gnaze.

I don’t suppose boxing coaches will probably be placing this one on loop within the fitness center anytime quickly, however you’ll be able to’t argue with the outcomes.

Pablo Gutierrez vs. Kevin Hernandez

Pablo Gutierrez had little interest in seeing a second spherical and admittedly, neither did his opponent Kevin Hernandez as Hernandez made no try and get out of the best way of a flying knee that landed from a mile away.

Severely Gutierrez loaded that one up in San Miguelito to despatched all of it the best way to Panama Metropolis and Hernandez nonetheless didn’t see it coming.

Final Fight Problem 75 is accessible at no cost replay on YouTube.

Sung Hwan Jung vs. Tomoya Omura

Now that is the way you arrange a flying assault with fashion and discretion.

In a flash, Sung Hwan Jung went airborne, flicking out a slick change kick that rocked Tomoya Omura. Combat legitimately may have been stopped there and no person would have complained.

Free fights from Zeus FC can be found on the promotion’s YouTube channel.

Delmar Silva vs. Nabil Malki
Luis Ivan Rodriguez vs. Alexandro Bravo

Let’s shut the present with a few submissions dropped at you by UFC Fight Pass, first from Combat Membership Rush 23 in Vasteras, Sweden:

I can’t say I’m too aware of this kneebar variation executed by Delmar Silva. The human physique is really an impressive weapon (and on the identical time, extremely fragile) and Silva took benefit of that reality with a leglock that few would anticipate to see in that place.

Possibly I’m only a noob, although. All you jiu-jitsu consultants on the market, let me understand how frequent this method is.

In the principle occasion of Lux Combat League 51 in Mexico Metropolis, Luis Ivan Rodriguez didn’t have to get fairly so fancy to win an interim flyweight title, however this can be a pretty rear-naked choke all the identical.

Physique triangled, one arm captured, and that choke sunk in proper underneath the chin. Rodriguez (25, 9-1) captured his first title belt and also you get the sense even greater issues lie forward for this Mexican prospect.

If you already know of a latest battle or occasion that you simply suppose could have been missed, or a promotion that might use some consideration, please tell us on X — @AlexanderKLee — utilizing the hashtag #MissedFists.